The Purpose of Debate
The Malaysian Model United Nations conference (MYMUN) and Model United Nations in general, has the same goals as the real United Nations. Through the debate of resolutions, delegates representing many different countries of the world have the opportunity to find solutions to world issues and conflicts. The purpose of debate is to be constructive, not destructive, and to cooperate with other delegates, while also trying to maintain your own country's policy.
The Procedure of DebateLike any other meeting of a large number of people, there need to be rules so that everything can run smoothly and everyone can have a chance to speak and participate. The people that are in charge of moderating the debate are the chairs. It is important that delegates follow their instruction; they are there to help you. MYMUN follows the same rules, or procedure, of THIMUN, the largest Model United Nations conference in the world for high school students, that takes place in The Hague, Amsterdam. Key points of this procedure are outlined below, but don't worry, your chairs will explain everything in greater detail when you get here!
Types of Debate:
The type of debate is at the chairs discretion.
Open Debate: Open debate means that delegates my take the floor to speak for or against. Amendments can be submitted at any time.
Closed Debate: Chair sets a separate for and against debate time. Amendments can only be submitted in against time.
Duties of each delegate:
~ Speakers need to address each other in the Third Person at all times. Always “honorable speaker” or “fellow delegates”, never “You” or “I”
~ Delegates should stand when speaking and if asking a question should not sit down until after the speaker has finished answering the delegate’s question.
~ Delegates must avoid the use of insulting or abusive language.
~ Delegates must yield the floor when required to do so by the Chair
Rising to Points:
General: Points during debate may NOT interrupt a speaker except for a Point of Personal Privilege, which refers to audibility. All other points will be dealt with only when there is a debating pause, i.e. when the speaker having the floor yields to points of information, to another delegation, or to the Chair.
I. Point of Personal Privilege:
~ Refers to the comfort and well-being of the delegate
~ May only interrupt a speaker if it refers to audibility
~ May not refer to the content of a speech
~ Is not debatable
~ Does not require a second
EXAMPLE: Could the air conditioner be switched on? It is warm in here.
II. Point of Order:
~ Refers to procedural matters only, i.e. if the chair makes an error in the order of debate or in the setting/observing of debate time
~ May NOT interrupt a speaker
~ Is not debatable
~ Can only refer to something that just happened, otherwise out of order
EXAMPLE: “Is it in order for the delegate to yield the floor to another delegation since the floor was previously yielded to him by Saudi Arabia?”
III. Point of Information to the Speaker:
~ A question directed to the delegate having the floor, if they have indicated that they are willing to yield to points of information.
~ Speaker asking the Point of Information may only speak if recognized by Chair
~ Must be formulated in the form of a question, i.e. “Is the speaker aware that...” A short introductory statement may precede the question.
~ Only ONE question may be asked at a time. There will be no dialogue between speaker and questioner on the floor.
EXAMPLE: “Could the honorable delegate, as she is the main submitter of this resolution, please explain to the house what action is taken in clause 2?” Follow-Ups: One follow up question is in order at the chairs discr
The Purpose of Debate
The Malaysian Model United Nations conference (MYMUN) and Model United Nations in general, has the same goals as the real United Nations. Through the debate of resolutions, delegates representing many different countries of the world have the opportunity to find solutions to world issues and conflicts. The purpose of debate is to be constructive, not destructive, and to cooperate with other delegates, while also trying to maintain your own country's policy.
The Procedure of DebateLike any other meeting of a large number of people, there need to be rules so that everything can run smoothly and everyone can have a chance to speak and participate. The people that are in charge of moderating the debate are the chairs. It is important that delegates follow their instruction; they are there to help you. MYMUN follows the same rules, or procedure, of THIMUN, the largest Model United Nations conference in the world for high school students, that takes place in The Hague, Amsterdam. Key points of this procedure are outlined below, but don't worry, your chairs will explain everything in greater detail when you get here!
Types of Debate:
The type of debate is at the chairs discretion.
Open Debate: Open debate means that delegates my take the floor to speak for or against. Amendments can be submitted at any time.
Closed Debate: Chair sets a separate for and against debate time. Amendments can only be submitted in against time.
Duties of each delegate:
~ Speakers need to address each other in the Third Person at all times. Always “honorable speaker” or “fellow delegates”, never “You” or “I”
~ Delegates should stand when speaking and if asking a question should not sit down until after the speaker has finished answering the delegate’s question.
~ Delegates must avoid the use of insulting or abusive language.
~ Delegates must yield the floor when required to do so by the Chair
Rising to Points:
General: Points during debate may NOT interrupt a speaker except for a Point of Personal Privilege, which refers to audibility. All other points will be dealt with only when there is a debating pause, i.e. when the speaker having the floor yields to points of information, to another delegation, or to the Chair.
I. Point of Personal Privilege:
~ Refers to the comfort and well-being of the delegate
~ May only interrupt a speaker if it refers to audibility
~ May not refer to the content of a speech
~ Is not debatable
~ Does not require a second
EXAMPLE: Could the air conditioner be switched on? It is warm in here.
II. Point of Order:
~ Refers to procedural matters only, i.e. if the chair makes an error in the order of debate or in the setting/observing of debate time
~ May NOT interrupt a speaker
~ Is not debatable
~ Can only refer to something that just happened, otherwise out of order
EXAMPLE: “Is it in order for the delegate to yield the floor to another delegation since the floor was previously yielded to him by Saudi Arabia?”
III. Point of Information to the Speaker:
~ A question directed to the delegate having the floor, if they have indicated that they are willing to yield to points of information.
~ Speaker asking the Point of Information may only speak if recognized by Chair
~ Must be formulated in the form of a question, i.e. “Is the speaker aware that...” A short introductory statement may precede the question.
~ Only ONE question may be asked at a time. There will be no dialogue between speaker and questioner on the floor.
EXAMPLE: “Could the honorable delegate, as she is the main submitter of this resolution, please explain to the house what action is taken in clause 2?”
Follow-Ups: One follow up question is in order at the chairs discr